Game device



Sept. 30, 1941'.

w. HANSELL GAME DEVICE Filed March 13, 1940 14 INVENTOR waiter Haw-Sell BY M m: ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME DEVICE Walter Hansell, New York, N. Y.

Application March 13, 1940, Serial No. 323,762

3 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly to that type of amusement device which involves some skill on the part of the player.

An object of the invention is to provide a game involving the use of a ball to be thrown at pegs in which the skilful player may outscore his competitors.

A further object is to provide a game of the type indicated which will develop skill in throwing a ball at particular objects.

With these and other objects in mind, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view, in cross section, of a game embodying my invention, taken on the line I| of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in cross section, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line I-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing the pins;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing the structure by which the pins are set up; and

Fig. '7 is a view of the block used when the pins are moved.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my device consists of a table I I mounted on suittable supports. On the surface I3 of the table II are pivoted a series of pins or pegs I4. These pegs are mounted on rods I5 below the surface I3. The rods I5 extend through a hole I6 to the rearward portion of the pins I4 so that the pins I4 may fall backwardly into the slots II.

The pegs may be colored, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, where the peg I8 is shown as blue, peg I9 as yellow, peg 2|] as red, and peg 2| as white. Any number of pegs may be employed but I have found that the most adaptable number is 17, there being four pegs having equal significance and one peg having a greater significanoe.

In playing the game the players may try to match colors and knock down, for instance, all the blue pegs and the one multicolored peg 22, or if the pegs are given a numerical value, as shown in Fig. 3, a greater score may be made by knocking down the pegs having a value of 40 plus the peg having a value of 100. Obviously, other colors and figures may be used to work out whatever combination may be desired. Moreover, the pegs may be arranged so that the pegs of one color are in a row, either across or lengthwise of the table, or they may be scattered indiscriminately.

In mounting the pegs the rod I5 is held in place on each side of the table by means of angle irons and 26. It will be seen that by loosening the screw 21 the angle iron 26 may be pivoted thereon in such position that the rod I5 may be withdrawn through the angle iron 25. As soon as the rod I5 is withdrawn, the pegs may be moved to a difierent position. If it is desired, certain of the pegs may be removed and a false peg 28 inserted. The member 28 has a groove 29 to engage the rod I5 so that it will lie flat and keep the surface I3 on the table II smooth.

In order to more easily operate my device I provide a mechanism for resetting the pegs. This includes a handle member 30 which is attached to a rod or wire 3|. The rod 3| has a series of apertures 32 which register with the rods 33 extending below the bed I3. The rods 33 are supplied with finger members 34 engaging the apertures 32. A spring 35 engaging the rod 3| tends to keep it in a rearward position. It will be seen that when the rod 3| is pulled forward by the handle 33 against the spring 35 the finger members 34 engage the apertures 32 in the rod 3| and cause the rods 33 to rotate. Mounted on the rods 33 immediately behind the pegs are arms 36 shown in both positions in Fig. 4. Upon the rotating of the rods 33 the arms 36 engage the back of the pegs I4 and cause them to move to the upright position.

In order to prevent the loss of balls which will ricochet from the pegs I4, and in order to make the operation of the game easier, I provide a screen 40 made of mesh or other suitable material and supported by uprights II. An additional ball catching device 42 is placed on the front of the game. The member 42 has side pieces 43 and a floor 44 which is tilted so that any balls landing thereon will roll back into the cage 40 or be caught in the mesh 45. The pegs I4 are provided with a sloping top 46 in order to provide a greater surface for contact with a thrown ball.

The surface I3 of the table II rests upon a shoulder 59 of the table II at one end and upon a similar shoulder 5| at the other. The sides 52 do not coincide with the sides of the table member II and thus form a trough or gutter 53 extending around the member II by which the balls may be returned to the front end of the table. It will be appreciated that when it is desired to change or rearrange the pegs I4 it will only be necessary to remove the member l3 in order to gain access to the rods [5. In order to strengthen the rods l5 and prevent their bending under pressure of the thrown balls, and in order to center the pegs I4 so that the member l3 may more easily be put into place, blocks 54 are provided which abut the rods 15 and center the pegs l4 so that they register with the slots l1 without the support of the member l3.

In the operation of the game the pegs M are first arranged as to color, numerical effect or otherwise, as the participants or operator may desire. As previously pointed out, they may be placed in rows of the same color or may be staggered in any way that may be desired by the removal and replacement of the pegs on the rods l5. When this has been determined and the game set up, each player is allowed to throw an agreed number of balls at the pegswhere l7 pegs are used five balls would be allowed. If the number value of the pegs is to be counted, the player will endeavor to knock over the pegs having the highest numerical count, that is, he will endeavor to knock over in each row the peg with the largest number. He will then endeavor to knock over the odd peg which has the greatest value. If, on the other hand, the game is played on the basis of matching colors, the player will endeavor to knock over four of the pegs of the same color plus the multicolored peg, or one peg of each color and the multicolored peg. It will be appreciated that various values may be set upon different combinations of colored pegs, and if the game is to be used as an amusement device in a carnival or the like, various prizes may be offered for the different combinations.

As the balls richochet oiT the peg they are caught by the cage 4! or by the collecting member 42 and returned to within easy reach of the operator. After each contestant has tried his hand, the operator may then set up the pegs again by the operation of the handle 30 in order that the next contestant may start with all of the pegs in the proper position.

While in my drawing and description I have dealt with a game employing 17 pegs and 5 balls, it will be appreciated that the number of pegs may be varied at will without deviating from the principle of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, comprising a table, a plurality of pegs pivotally mounted on said table, said pegs being adapted torest in an upright or horizontal position, and means for placing all of said pegs in an upright position, said means comprising rods positioned behind and below said pegs and having fingers adapted to engage said pegs, a second-mentioned finger on each of said rods at the end thereof, and a spring-controlled pull rod at the side of the table having apertures therein adapted to engage the second-mentioned fingers on the ends of the first-mentioned rods to cause said rods to rotate when the pull rod is operated against said spring.

2. In a device of the character described, a table, rods mounted on said table, pegs pivoted on said rods, blocks to strengthen said rods, and to center and position said pegs, and a covering member adapted to cover said rods and. having apertures coinciding with said pegs.

3. In a device of the character described, a table, rods mounted on said table, pegs pivoted on said rods, and means for removing said rods to substitute pegs, said means comprising a pair of angle irons, one of said angle irons having a longer base than the other and being provided with a hole to receive said rod, and the other of said angle irons being mounted ontop of the first of said angle irons and adapted to engage the edge of said rod to normally hold it in position but being adapted to free said rod when said smaller angle iron is pivoted out of position.

WALTER. HANSELL. 

